Hello Surferboy
Organ involvement is often ( perhaps mostly) suggested initially by symptoms. That's why it is important to report all health problems. Then various tests will be done to determine the cause of those symptoms. Some sorts of organ involvement show up first in lab tests or maybe accidentally in imaging tests, or perhaps physical examination.
The only actual organ involvement I can think of right now that might only emerge through lab tests is kidney disease, which usually only shows physical signs when is it already developed but is often first detected as a possibility in abnormal blood work and urine.
Perhaps blood abnormalities that are, or could, put a person at risk of problems, could be included in that - various anemias, coagulation problems for example. Physical examination could detect abnormalites such as heart or lung conditions.
As with any lupus symptom severity of organ involvement varies enormously. The aim of timely treatment is stop permanent damage. I think I have read that that studies have shown that some degree of kidney and lung involvement is almost universal, but many patients might never experience any signs of it.
The post diagnosis period is very stressful as we have to deal with the unknown and uncertainty and very understandable fear as well as an overwhelming mass of information. We also have to be very patient waiting for test results and giving ourselves time to absorb whatever there is to absorb. Don't let your fears run away with you !
I always say, know where the bridges are or where they might be but don't cross them until they have to be crossed. We can make ourselves sick by fears that turn out to be ill founded. Try to curb your imagination and don't build huge constructs from itty bitty items of information.
Make sure you have reported all health problems to your doctor even if you don't think they are lupus related and make sure all the relevant tests have been done. Then make sure they are regularly repeated as advised by your doc. if there are any signs of kidney involvement for example, clearly a very close eye needs to be kept on kidney status. Know what the signs of increasing disease activity might be.
It's a good idea to start a new thread for each separate topic so that it's clear to readers that there is a new topic. Many people don't go back to a thread they have already responded to. And as it's a forum anybody can reply to any question. They might have said all they have to say about ds DNA but many people can tell you their first signs of organ trouble and how it was detected.
So I have started this new thread on the Symptoms section.
T
he only worrying development I have had over the years, was the appearance of certain antibodies that might cause clotting problems but as I had had none of the possible associated symptoms I was put on 75mgs aspirin a day to try to help stop any associated events. I once had anti ds DNA antibodies at slightly above normal levels but never again and regular urine testing has never shown any signs of kidney disease. Disease expression varies enormously from person to person and little is known about why this is so.
Cheers
Clare
